If you've decided, whether for your own health, or the health of
the earth and animals in general, to try organic gardening, you
may notice that you are having trouble controlling pests,
diseases, and other problems without the use of chemicals.
Luckily, there are natural techniques that can be used to solve
these common gardening problems. Companion planting is one of
those techniques.

By companion planting, or strategically planting specific
flowers, herbs, and vegetables together, you can enhance the
taste of vegetables, as well as naturally control common pest and
bug related problems in your garden.

Companion planting is both useful and important to control pests
in natural gardens, as well as in vegetable gardens. For
example, if you move two of the wrong types of vegetables close
together, the taste could be very bad. On the other hand, if you
move correct vegetables close to each other, the taste is great.

One great companion plant combination is basil and tomatoes. If
they are planted together in the same container garden, the
tomatoes will taste great, especially in homemade sauces.

Another example of companion plants that work well are chives and
either tomatoes or carrots. The flavor and growth rate of the
plants will improve, and aphids will be repelled away from the
tomatoes, and carrot rust flies will be deterred from the
carrots.

If chives are planted by roses, they can also help to prevent
black spots on them. It takes 2 or 3 years of companion planting

before this common disease is prevented, however.

Cabbage is a plant that can have either positive or negative
companion planting results. Planting cabbage around celery,
dill, onions, or potatoes will be good for all of the plants.
Planting the cabbage too close to tomatoes or strawberries,
however, will have a negative effect and can reduce the growth
rate and production.

Marigolds (Calendula) are have been used for centuries to repel
pests around landscaping. Scattering them around your yard and
garden will help to repel a large number of bugs and pests. If
you don't use marigolds with a scent, they will not work to repel
bugs. Since it is the smell that is repulsive to insects, you
need to make sure that you can handle it yourself before planting
too many of them. You don't want to be kept out of your own
garden area or yard!